Nicola Blair

Nicola sees her role as guiding her team to back dairy farmers through good times and challenging times – providing them with what they need, so they don’t have to face it all alone.

“Supporting dairy farmers is vital because they’re juggling a lot,” explains Nicola. “Everyday farmers are having to make complex decisions, and their work is demanding and constantly evolving.”

Nicola sees herself as a key connector between her team and her area’s dairy farmers, making sure farmers can access the knowledge, tools and support they need to thrive and achieve their goals. She loves the outdoors too, so it’s no surprise she relishes talking directly on-farm with farmers too.

“A big part of my day to day is about listening – understanding what matters most to the farmers in my area, what’s working well, and where the pressure points are, so I can steer them in the right direction.”

Before taking up her DairyNZ role, Nicola worked with farmers to eradicate Tuberculosis (TB) from their farms.

“That was one of the more intense but rewarding experiences in my working career. There were some hard conversations, long days and plenty of emotion, and making sure I was there when people needed someone to talk to. Finally seeing farms free of the disease was a massive win.”

Nicola finds working with others in the sector in her current role very energising as well. “No one organisation has all the answers, so connecting with them all means we can align our efforts for farmers. I’m proud, too, of the way DairyNZ’s regional teams are so approachable and genuinely caring.

“Ultimately, for me, this job is about the people. Our regional teams don’t just turn up when things go wrong: we’re there for the day-to-day, the long-term planning and everything in between. Being able to support farmers, help solve challenges, and see positive change happening on the ground – that’s what drives me.”

• Find out more about DairyNZ’s other Lower South Island regional team members.
• Check out our nationwide regional teams.